Sugar Ray Robinson VS Jake LaMotta: The Way It Was
“The three toughest fighters I ever fought were Sugar Ray Robinson, Sugar Ray Robinson and Sugar Ray Robinson. I fought Sugar so many times, I’m surprised I’m not diabetic.” —Jake LaMotta
It is no secret that I am a big advocate of watching fight tape.
Here is a great one, with commentary from the great Sugar Ray Robinson and Jake LaMotta.
It is also no secret that I didn’t do too well in college (I was mostly swooping girls, surfing and learning “International Business” while “on the job”.)
However, I did do a paper on Raging Bull: My Story (the book) in I think some psychology class. (And I can tell you, LaMotta was a heavy, and I mean heavy cat).
I got an A.
Ray Robinson Jake LaMotta The Way It Was Part 1
The Way It Was – Sugar Ray Robinson and Jake LaMotta look back on their rivalry 2/3
The Way It Was – Sugar Ray Robinson and Jake LaMotta look back on their rivalry 3/3
I haven’t had the time to watch a lot of Television lately, as I have been traveling a lot and swooping fly girls, but I did check a couple of shows recently that were dope.
They are:
1. On Freddie Roach
2. Luck
Both on HBO.
Interestingly enough, they are on two topics; Boxing and Horse Racing, that are G Manifesto favorites.
Looks like the world is coming back around to dopeness.
Side note:
I saw the first episode of Luck and it is beautifully shot. I love the horse races. Although I probably won’t check it too much as it’s an hour long, and I need to hustle right now.
Plus, I have spent my life at The Track. I have probably been the most prolific writer about The Racetrack since Damyon Runyon (check the archives).
Hell, they should have consulted me for the show, as I am sure my reality at The Track is doper than the fantasy of the show.
Here is a little article on The re-opened 5th Street Gym:
Through a slumping economy and a rapidly changing boxing landscape, the owners have established 5th Street Gym as a landmark in its own right.
The secret, Baiamonte said, is in the spirit.
“A lot of gyms are so money-hungry, that all they care about is, ‘OK, this is what you have to pay, and that’s it,’ ’’ Baiamonte said. “Here, we won’t do that. Here, it’s just being friendly. That’s the one thing Angelo always did: He was friendly with everybody.”
Baiamonte is one of several “Dundee disciples,” a group of trainers who honed their craft under the late Angelo Dundee. A self-described gym rat, Baiamonte began working with Dundee in 2000, and in 2009 he decided he wanted to reopen the 5th Street Gym. As he looked into different options, he joined forces with the Chicago duo of Spencer — also a trainer — and Tsatas —a businessman and boxing enthusiast.
All that’s left of the original location is a plaque, and so Baiamonte, Spencer and Tsatas bought a space one block north, at 555 Washington Ave.
Now, the 5th Street Gym’s legacy is displayed on the walls of the new location with fight posters dating to Muhammad Ali’s storied 1964 upset victory over Sonny Liston. Baiamonte even brought in a window from the original gym and the sign that welcomed visitors from 5th Street.
Still, the owners know they’ve got to pave a legacy of their own.
“Don’t try to copy,” Dundee told the trio. “You’ve got to create.”
All great leaders since Moses have known that a feared enemy must be crushed completely. (Sometimes they have learned this the hard way.) If one ember is left alight, no matter how dimly it smolders, a fire will eventually break out. More is lost through stopping halfway than through total annihilation: The enemy will recover, and will seek revenge. Crush him, not only in body but in spirit. – Robert Greene, The 48 Laws of Power
Now this is how to finish a rival:
Believe it or not, G Manifesto Hall of Fame Member, Vinny “The Pazmanian Devil” Pazienza, did not follow Robert Greene’s 15th Law.
As Dana Rosenblatt was able to take a split decision in the rematch.
Still, it was a great finish.
Side note:
I never saw the rematch, so I don’t know if there was any “home cooking” involved in a razor thin decision.
